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Saying goodbye with architecture

Nearly 80,000 words later and close to completing my ‘life affirming book about death’, I’m back. With more ideas, challenges and stories of people’s experiences to share, as we talk about death. This is one: what if better architecture makes better goodbyes?

Here’s something wonderful – thank you to the UK’s Dying Matters for sharing this one.

Dutch architects HofmanDujardin have designed a new funeral ceremony centre – the sort that you’d want to be buried from. Don’t think cardboard finials and fake flowers. This takes the concept of saying goodbye to a completely new level – and the firm’s idea is getting worldwide attention.

HofmanDujardin architects have designed this new funeral celebration centre - photo courtesy of HofmanDujardin
HofmanDujardin architects have designed this new funeral celebration centre – photo courtesy of HofmanDujardin.

Maybe this exquisite re-imagining of the funeral home will nudge funerals into a new space, so we can say goodbye in a way that matches all that’s positive in our world today, and expresses real beauty.

“The way we say good bye to our loved ones is a very personal decision. We designed a Funeral Centre which is specifically suitable for its function, and at the same time leaves room for interpretation. We think that sad moments in our life should be beautiful at the same time,” says Barbara Dujardin.

For more visit: https://www.hofmandujardin.nl/funeral-ceremony-centre/

Another architecture firm exploring the relationship between people and the funeral landscape, its form and functionality is Ron Shenkin Studio. Carlos Cortes discusses the open sided shelter in Israel in How This Funeral Architecture is a Beautiful Tribute to Nature.

And Good Grief looks at how going green solves many burial issues.

https://good-grief.com.au/green-pod-burials-solve-many-problems/

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